India 2017

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India 2017

As my anxiety over leaving my three babes behind and my fear of flying started to move to the back of my head and my heart, I planted two feet firmly and excitedly onto the earth of Mother India.

I was called to come here, the urge was so strong and i finally listened to my heart and felt overwhelmed with joy to have arrived. We found our driver and headed straight to the ashram with anticipation. With a quick road side stop for our first real Indian Masala Chai. Just watching the ritual and art involved when brewing and pouring the chai was a vision to be seen.

We headed off on our three hour road trip and spent the next 5 days in an overwhelmingly magical part of the world.  We participated in ceremonial blessings and offerings to Sri Narayani, Lakshmi and Durga. Daily 4-5 hour Pujas in the Peedam, including a Full Moon Puja and discourse by Amma and  sunrise yoga on the roof terrace.image1

We walked the star path sometimes twice daily for meditation and Darshin,  the world of Sri Purnam became familiar almost like home. We awoke at 3:30 one morning for a special Abhishekam and Yagam. We were welcomed by Vaishnavi, Amma’s elephant who blessed us, whilst tears ran down my face, she looked deep within me with her beautiful, giant eyes and her trunk enveloped my face. A moment that seemed to still time and etch a memory in my mind forever.

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In between the Abhishekam and the Yagam we walked over to Peedam where everyone was celebrating with a Surya Puja for Pongal. By the time we were ready for the most powerful Yagam I have ever been apart of, exhaustion set in for me and I became totally overwhelmed. It was our last day at Sri Puram.  By this point I couldn’t possibly take in any more beauty and blessings without a rest.

The days at Sri Puram were overwhelmingly magical for me, many tears were shed and I was constantly  being presented with moments that needed to be processed slowly. They told me that Amma had already met me in a previous life and asked me to come visit in this one. That alone was something that was a revelation to me.

Amma blessed me and my family whilst we were there and I very much look forward to taking my children back to meet her.

We hugged our friends goodbye as we left the ashram and headed on another road trip to  WIDE Children’s Home in Thiruvanmalai for another 5 days or so. The landscape here was pretty spectacular with sacred mountains and rainbow houses.

Kumari and Xavier greeted us with open arms and beautiful food.  WIDE children’s home is a wonderful place providing a safe home for children who need it most. We gave them our donations and they were received with great big smiles and loads of gratitude.

We celebrated Pongal in a village two hours away with Xavier and Kumari, all dressed up in our Saris with loud music, sand mandalas and thousands of very big smiles. What a wonderful thing to be apart of.

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As our time here came to an end and it was time for us to say goodbye to India for now, I have almost, but not quite touched down here in Australia, but am shining brightly with much openness and gratitude for my time there.

People have asked me what it was like and I simply explain it that I felt like I was wearing my heart on the outside of my body, so exposed, receiving all the gifts from the invisible hand of india. A place where all my senses were on overdrive and overwhelmed. But now, how do I integrate all this and more, back into my usual life? Slowly, with awareness, gently as we go.

Om Namo Narayani

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Rainbow Pammy
administrator
Pammy is an avid lover of nature and art as a tool for mindfulness, She study's and explores her surroundings in the Perth hills and beaches to create raw and organic pieces including botanic art, ceramics, wild clay, printings, pressings and preserving's. With the idea of country heals, art heals, she uses nature and the practices of yoga in both her daily life, in her permaculture garden and her art. Pammy aspires to share her passion for sustainability, the connection to land and country and art as healing with her wider community through gatherings, workshops and yoga.

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